Louvered door



2,807,062 Patented Sept. 24, 1957 LOUVERED DOOR Arthur L. Sikkema andFrank H. Bielema, Fulton, Ill., assignors to Curtis CompaniesIncorporated, Clinton, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Application June 4,1956, Serial No. 589,103

2 Claims. (Cl. 20-63) This invention relates to a louvered panel or doorconstruction and more particularly to an improved means and structurefor mounting chevron-type louvers between the frame or door stiles.Lo-uvered doors are used extensively in home and furniture construction.

One object of the invention is to provide means for preassembling thelouvers in spaced relation before installation in the door or frame,which means becomes a permanent part of the final door structure.

Another object is to provide a positive and effective means for lockingthe louvers in the frame to prevent rattling and displacement.

These and other objects will become apparent from the followingdescription when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

Figure l is an elevational View of a louvered panel having the centersection broken out;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through a corner of the louveredpanel shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section taken along the line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an exploded view showing the elements comprising one side ofthe frame construction including a stile, and cooperating slat forlocking the louvers in parallel spaced relation;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of an apparatus for facilitating assemblyof the louvers with the spacing slats;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 6.

The invention lies in the combination of the various elements and themanner in which they cooperate to provide the novel louver structure.

Referring now to Figures 1 through 5, the louvered panel shown comprisesa rectangular frame having parallel vertical members or stiles 12, andopposed parallel horizontal members or rails 14. The chevron-shapedlouvers 16 are disposed in parallel relation and extend between thestiles 12. The stiles 12 have a shallow longitudinal channel 18 (as bestshown in Figure 4) which is adapted to receive the ends of the louvers16. The sides of the channel 18 may 'be slightly bevelled to facilitateinsertion of the louver into the channel. The dimensions are such as toprovide a snug fit. Disposed along the centerline of the channel 18 is arelatively narrow groove 20 adapted to receive slat member 24. Thegroove 20 may be widened slightly at the mouth to permit insertion ofthe spacer slat 24 without d-ifliculty. The fit should be snug. Theouter edge 30 of the slat 24 is smooth and is adapted to lie in thebottom of the groove 20. The inner edge of the slat 24 is notched,containing alternate notches 26 and teeth 28. The notches are ofsufiicient width to re ceive the end of louvers 16'. The invention isparticularly adapted for the assembling of louvers having achevronshaped cross section, comprising angular legs 15, 17 which joinat the longitudinal center-line of the louver. The louvers contain kerfs32 (Figure 5 cut into the ends thereof midway between the members 15 and17. The kerfs 32 are adapted to embrace the slat 24 when the louvers areassembled therewith.

The assembly is best shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4. The

leg members 15 and 17 of the louver 16 fit snugly within the channel 18and bear against the sides thereof. The upper and lower surfaces of theflat center portion of the louver contact the sides of the notches 26 inthe slat 24 while the kerf 32 embraces the portion of the slat adjacentto the bottom of the notch 26. In this way the louvers are held securelyin parallel spaced relation between the vertical members or stiles 12 ofthe panel or door structure.

Suitable means for preassembling the louvered panels of the inventionare shown in Figures 6 through 8. The apparatus comprises a simple easel40 having a supporting plate 42 fixed to the front thereof and, at thebase of the plate, a ledge 44 having a groove 46 extendinglongitudinally thereof. The groove 46 is of size suitable for receivingthe notched slat 24 and is spaced from the surface of the plate 42 topermit louvers fitted with the notched slat to lie with their sidesagainst the face of the plate 42. In other words, the groove 46 isspaced about half the width of the louver from the face of the plate 42.An alignment bar 48 containing angular notches 49 is mountedtransversely across the plate on brackets 50 which are adapted to slideup and down the front legs of the easel 40. The notches 49 receive theedges of the louvers. Each bracket 50 has a pin 52 adapted to slide intoholes 54 in the front leg of the easel to facilitate vertical adjustmentof the alignment bar. The alignment bar serves to hold the free ends ofthe louvers in parallel spaced relation and preferably is adjustable totake care of louvers of different lengths.

In assembling louvers to the slats using this apparatus the first stepconsists in placing the slat 24 within the groove 46 with the notchesup. The end of each of the louvers 16 is then inserted in the notch 26with the kerf 32 embracing the slat. Glue may be applied to the matingsurfaces if desired. The free end of each louver is held by means of thealignment bar 48, the sides or legs of the louvers fitting intocomplementary slots 49. After all of the louvers have been assembledwith the slat 24 lying in the slot 46, the tops of said louvers arespaced accurately by reason of the alignment bar so that they may beassembled with a second duplicate slat (not shown) which is pressed intolocking position. Little diificulty is experienced in putting the secondslat into proper position since the free ends of the louvers areaccurately aligned to match the notches. The assembly is then removedfrom the easel and placed within the vertical frame members or stiles12, the outer edge 30 of the slats being seated in the groove 20 of thestile. To finish the assembly the horizontal rail members 14 of theframe or door are put into position. They may be screwed to the stiles,as shown in the drawing, or assembled in any other appropriate manner.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that we have providedan efficient method and construction for assembling louvers havingchevron-shaped cross sec tion. It will be noted that the notched slatswhich hold the louvers in spaced relation become a permanent part of thefinal louvered panel assembly. By means of our construction a postiveand effective locking of the louvers within the frame is brought about.It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications may be made in structural details without departing fromthe true spirit and scope of our invention. The particular forms shownin the drawings and described herein are 3 given merely for purposes ofillustration. It is our intention not to limit our invention otherwisethan as necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. In a louvered door comprising a pair of opposed stiles withchevron-type louvers mounted in longitudinal grooves in the stiles,means for preassernbling the louvers and for spacing them in assembledrelation with the, stiles comprising a pair of notched slats, one foreach stile, having alternate notches and spacing teeth in the inneredges thereof, said notches being of suflicient width to receive theends of the louvers, said slats being adapted to fit into channelsprovided in the bottom of each of said grooves with the teeth projectingbeyond the channelcontaining surface of the stiles to support saidlouvers, and kerfs cut in each end of the louvers adapted to receive theslats when the ends of the louvers are disposed within said notches.

2. A louvered door comprising a pair of opposed stiles each having arelatively shallow longitudinal channel and a narrow groove in thebottom of the channel coextensive therewith, louvers of chevron-shapedcross section extending between said stiles with the ends thereofmounted in said channels, said louvers having kerfs cut in said endsparallel with said grooves, and a pair of notched slats, one for eachstile, having smooth outer edges and alternate notches andlouver-spacing teeth in the inner edges thereof, said slats beingassembled in said stiles with said outer edges disposed within saidgrooves, and said louvers being disposed within said notches with theportion of the slat adjacent the notch being disposed within said kerf.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS230,944 Iaques Aug. 10, 1880 1,108,613 Parker Aug. 25, 1914 FOREIGNPATENTS 844,826 France May 1, 1938 192,789 Switzerland Nov. 16, 1937

